International Student Affairs 36 South Wabash, suite 1203 Chicago, IL 60603 312.629.6830 | intaff@saic.edu
Student Visa and Financial Matters Worksheet
AFTER BEING ADMITTED
You should start preparing to apply for an F-1 student visa. In order for SAIC to issue a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 form) for you to apply for an F-1 student visa, you are required by the Department of State (DOS) to submit evidence of adequate and sufficient funding to meet the estimated tuition and living expenses as outlined in the Graduate Student Budget table. You will receive an invitation to create your profile in Terra Dotta in the spring after you submit your enrollment deposit.
Follow The Steps Below
1. Refer to the Graduate Student Budget table on the next page to identify your program and the corresponding total annual expenses. Add any required funding for additional programs/ requests ( e.g., Summer intensive for MDDO, dependents).
Enter your total expense estimate $ ____________________________
2 Complete an I-20 request via Terra Dotta (global.saic.edu). Self-sponsored Name of any sponsor/s _______________________________
3. Submit a bank statement showing an account balance issued within the past six months. Please write the student’s full name on any bank statements or letters belonging to a sponsor.
THE BANK ACCOUNT MUST:
• Be in the name of you and/or your sponsor
• Show the type of currency clearly
• Be issued in English or have an accompanying translation
Declarations of assets/property, tax filings, or statements of estimated earnings from employers cannot be accepted. SAIC is not responsible if the amount of funding shown to be available by students or sponsor/s on the Statement of Financial Support Request becomes unavailable after the date on the document.
4. Upload a photocopy of your passport biographical page clearly showing your name/personal information.
5. Submit your complete I-20 application packet to International Student Affairs via Terra Dotta (global.saic.edu). You will be given access to this portal once you have submitted your enrollment deposit. Do not email any of the requested documents to International Student Affairs.
FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING AN I-20 FROM ANOTHER US INSTITUTION
If you have attended school in the US and currently hold a valid I-20, you will need to follow these additional steps to transfer your I-20 to SAIC.
1. When you complete your Declaration of Intent in Terra Dotta, please select “I am currently attending/have recently attended a US institution and will transfer my SEVIS Record.”
2. Click the Transfer In button in Terra Dotta to open the Transfer Release Form. Confirm with your current advisor the SEVIS Transfer Release Date and their email and enter the information.
3. If you are traveling outside the US before beginning your studies at SAIC, please:
• Enter your travel information in the Transfer Release Form in Terra Dotta.
• Check the expiration date of your F-1 visa; students with an expired visa will need to apply for a renewal while outside the US.
• DO NOT use the I-20 from your previous school to re-enter the US; you MUST use your SAIC I-20 when re-entering.
STUDENTS WITH IMMIGRATION STATUS OTHER THAN F-1
If you entered the US on a visa type other than F-1, or if you are a US permanent resident, please submit a copy of the current visa page from your passport with your I-94 (cbp.gov/i94), or a copy of your Alien Registration Card (front and back) as verification of your current status to International Student Affairs.
| intaff@saic.edu
Tuition and Expense Estimate
GRAD BOOT CAMP
Students in the following grad programs may be required to begin their degrees with a six-credit credit design intensive. These students must show additional funding (US $17,293) to account for the tuition and living expenses associated with this summer boot camp.
• Master of Design in Designed Objects
LOW-RESIDENCY MFA
Students in the Low-Residency MFA program begin their degrees with a six-week summer residency and are issued an I-20 to stay in the US for the residency portion of the degree only. Low-Residency MFA students must provide $23,257 in funding evidence.
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING COSTS
2025–26 on-campus housing in SAIC Residence Hall (double occupancy room rate at US $15,180, plus meals/food budget of $3,850) is estimated in total at US $19,030.
DEPENDENTS
Students who will be accompanied by a spouse and/or a child/ children must complete a dependent supplement when applying for an I-20 online and provide photocopies of each dependent’s passport. Evidence of additional funding in the amount of US $6,300 (spouse only), $5,300 (1 child only), $11,600 (spouse + 1 child), or $16,900 (spouse + 2 children) is required.
* Note that these costs reflect expenses for the 2025-26 academic year; tuition and expense estimates are subject to yearly increases. Tuition per credit hour in fall/spring 2025-26: Post-Bacc (5th year undergraduate) $1,908 /Grad $1,988.
** Divide in half for Historic Preservation Certificate as it is 15 credit hours for
For guidance with the annual budget for the Historic Preservation Certificate, please contact Student Financial Services directly
Graduate Student Annual Budget
MFA Studio, M DesOb, MFA Fash, M Arch, March with tack in InArch Post-Bacc